Bachelors and Masters in Health Management and Administration in Tennessee

Tennessee’s healthcare industry is a vital part of the state’s economy – and the sector is growing. In 2013 the US Department of Commerce reported that the state’s healthcare industry generated $26.6 billion, which represented 9.17 percent of Tennessee’s entire GSP (Gross State Product) that year.

That same year an economic impact study authored by the Nashville Health Care Council found that the local Nashville healthcare industry generates around $30 billion and accounts for 210,000 jobs. Tennessee is also the global headquarters for 56 significant healthcare organizations, not least of which is the Hospital Corporation of America, the largest operator of for-profit healthcare facilities in the world.

With these significant healthcare attributes comes the potential for significant demand and opportunity for healthcare administrators, managers, and directors. In fact, Tennessee is home to a higher number of medical and health services administrators than all its neighboring states, and in general, more than most states in the nation (US Department of Labor, 2014). And the number keeps growing. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development projects that the number of medical and health services administrator jobs in the state will increase by 19 percent between 2012 and 2022.

In addition to a strong presence of major players in the medical services industry, the Affordable Care Act has also bolstered the demand for healthcare administrators. A 2014 Gallup poll found that since the Act’s passage the number of state residents with health insurance has risen to 84.9 percent, or 5.56 million Tennesseans. The state’s population of senior citizens is also a factor in this increasing demand. The 2014 US Census found that 15.1 percent of the state’s population is at least 65 years of age.

Healthcare Administration Degrees in Tennessee

Tennessee offers a variety of opportunities for experienced administrators vying for executive positions to earn advanced degrees, as well as for new students looking to begin their studies at the undergraduate level. Options include both online programs and programs at campus locations throughout the state.

Undergraduate Degrees in Health Administration and Management

Relevant degree programs for careers in the healthcare administration field include:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a focus in Health Administration

Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)

Bachelor of Science in Health Administration

Bachelor of Science in Health Management

Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration

The bachelor’s degree program takes approximately four years to complete and is at least 120 semester credits. The first half of the degree program focuses on general course requirements and prerequisites for more advanced courses in the major. Schools will often accept a transfer associate’s degree to fulfill general undergraduate requirements.

The latter two years of the bachelor’s program focus on developing key skills in the field of health administration. Upper-division courses in the major can cover topics like:

Principles of management

Principles of marketing

Analysis of financial statements

Strategic planning in healthcare organizations

Healthcare economics

Legal issues in the healthcare business environment

Supply chain and operations management

Organizations and information systems

Prospective students can find relevant bachelor’s degree programs online and in cities like:

Nashville

Knoxville

Chattanooga

Bristol

Graduate Degrees in the Field of Health Administration

Throughout Tennessee and the rest of the United States, holding a relevant graduate degree is becoming a recognized standard for professionals who want to start and advance their careers in health administration. Relevant programs include:

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management or Administration

MHA/MBA dual degree program

Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA)

JD/MSHA dual degree program

MSN/MBA dual degree program

Graduate Program Admission Criteria

While programs may have unique admissions standards, many programs will admit students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any field. Other common requirements often include:

Previous professional work experience

Some programs require current employment a related field

Essay on career goals and personal motivations

Letters of recommendation

Completion of specific course prerequisites

Minimum undergraduate GPA

It takes between 12-24 months to complete the 30-60 semester credits that graduate programs typically consist of. Core topics covered during the course of study can include:

Advanced management for healthcare organizations

Strategy for large healthcare organizations

Global economics for healthcare managers

Medical informatics and logistics management

Healthcare policy and law

Quantitative methods for healthcare organizations

Compliance for national accreditation

Compliance for state and federal regulations

Many graduate programs will also culminate with a thesis or capstone research project where students focus on a particular issue in-depth or tie together what they have learned throughout the graduate experience.

Relevant graduate programs are offered online as well as at campus locations throughout the state, including in the cities of:

Memphis

Murfreesboro

Nashville

Clarksville

Knoxville

Johnson City

Working as a Health Administrator in Tennessee

Upon earning a qualifying education, graduates can begin exploring health administration jobs throughout Tennessee. The following job descriptions are presented as illustrative examples only to provide a sense of the opportunities and associated qualifications that may be available throughout the state (November 2015):

Director of Surgical Services Expense Management – The primary function of this professional is to support the agency’s overall strategies through effective leadership in clinical and non-clinical surgical services; highly preferred candidates hold an MHA, MBA, or MSN

Southern Tennessee Regional Health System in Winchester

Market President – This executive-level leader is responsible for driving performance and increasing market share, working closely with other executives and community representatives; applicants must have an MHA, MBA, or equivalent degree

Community Health Systems in Franklin

Regional Director of Operations – Dealing especially with post-acute rehabilitation, this professional implements, plans, directs, and evaluates these programs throughout the assigned region; preferred applicants hold an MHA or MBA

LifePoint Health in Brentwood

Director of Population Health Management – Working closely with the vice president of population health, this professional’s key responsibilities are to develop, implement, and manage newly formed programs; preferred applicants hold an MHA, MBA, or MPA

Resources for Tennessee’s Healthcare Administrators

Aspiring and current professionals in this field can find useful resources for employment and career development with local organizations across Tennessee: